Mike Sensenig joined the board of the Pequea Valley Education Foundation (PVEF) to contribute to the local community. "We wanted to give back somewhere, and this seemed like a good place to do it," said Sensenig. But as a Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) Class of 1975 alumnus, Sensenig has special ties to the mission of the organization.
"I remember going on the (eighth-grade) Williamsburg trip," said Sensenig, referencing a field trip that PVEF helps fund through scholarships. "That really touches the community because graduates remember going. I was excited to hear they continue to do that (trip)."
"It's our goal to enrich the educational experiences for all kids who come to Pequea Valley," said Amy Koberstein, PVHS assistant principal and member of the PVEF board. The organization, which formed in 2013, has a nine-member board, made up of community members and active Pequea Valley School District staff members. "We support students who might not be in a position financially to participate in things that might be viewed as extra," Koberstein said of PVEF.
Koberstein reported that in the last year, PVEF ran two grant cycles with the goal of distributing $25,000. One of the grants went to Pequea Valley Intermediate School (PVIS) to support the annual manufacturing week, which introduces learners to the world of manufacturing, including demonstrations in how to lay flooring and a PVC pipe challenge activity. "Kids learned to wire an outlet and frame a wall," shared Koberstein, who noted that the board plans to continue to support the activity each year. "We also awarded (a grant for) Orbas, (which are) a tech device that allows kids to write their own music." Koberstein noted that the scholarships for the Williamsburg trip were doubled this year so that ninth-grade students, whose trip was canceled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, could participate.
"We don't have a lot of operating costs," said Koberstein of the PVEF board. "People who give to our foundation should know every dollar ends up back in the hands of Pequea Valley facilitators benefiting Pequea Valley learners."
"As a community member, that was important to me," noted Sensenig.
Participating in the Extraordinary Give is a main source of funding for PVEF. For 2021, the organization will take part in The Factory Block Party, which will be held outside at The Factory, 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, on Friday, Nov. 19, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Sensenig hopes leaders of area businesses will come out to the party. "This community has been blessed. My goal is to raise awareness of the foundation in the business community," he said.
The Extraordinary Give is hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF). The 24-hour event, known as the largest per-capita giving day in the nation, will begin at 12:00:01 a.m. on Nov. 19. Individuals may make donations using a credit card to participating nonprofits at http://www.extragive.org. Readers who would like to learn more about PVEF may visit http://www.pequeavalley.org/domain/347.
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